Karnaval in Bergen Op Zoom

I think I know now where Terry Gilliam gets his ideas. When we stepped into the world of carnival in the small town of Bergen op Zoom in the Netherlands yesterday, I felt as though I was stepping into one of his films. We were among the ten or so people in the village who weren't costumed in some way, shape or form. The rule: gather all the junk you can find in your house and attach it to your head. Next, wear every cape or flowy cloth you own, some lace, leg warmers, and wooden clogs. And don't forget your mask, even if it makes you look like you just came out of oral surgery. Nothing was left to the imagination. Crabs were the shellfish of choice, and enlarged plastic replicas with human-like faces were hung on every facade.


Then there was the parade. At the beginning we yawned at the stream of advertisments going by in the form of sponsored trucks and vans tossing out flyers. But it quickly morphed into the float-and-band variety. I cannot even begin to describe what this was like. Goblins, dwarves, witches, princesses, and even Sponge Bob showed up for the party. The bands all played the same song, which I wish I knew the title to, but that will have to remain a mystery. I wish I knew the meaning behind these practices (i.e. which floats were meant to drive away demons). What surprised me the most was that the whole shabang was very much a locally-driven enterprise, and that folks of all ages were involved and actually excited about it. There was no cynicism about rituals that have been tirelessly repeated since the Middle Ages.

Next time we do something like this, we will go with a larger group, and we will dress up and not care, because that's the way the locals do it. When it comes to carnival, you're all in. Otherwise, get out of town.

Communion liturgy - 18.02.07

Child: Why do we give thanks and praise to God?
Pres: Because he has created everything, and has given us life. He is Lord of all, and yet loves each of us as parents should love their children. Father, for your love, we praise you.
All: Father, for your love, we praise you.

Child: Why do we remember Jesus?
Pres: Because he was sent from God and he gave up his life for us on the cross. God raised him from the dead, showing that death is not the end, but the beginning of a new life, the life Jesus showed us how to live. Father, for your Son, we praise you.
All: Father, for your Son, we praise you.

Child: Why is this bread important?
Pres: Because the bread joins us to the life of Jesus. Broken, it is a sign of his suffering for us. It brings us to walk with him along the path to new life. Jesus, you are the living bread.
All: Jesus, you are the living bread.

Child: Why is this wine important?
Pres: Because this wine joins us to the life of Jesus. Poured out, it is a sign of his saving love for us. It brings us to walk with him along the path to new life. Jesus, you are the true vine.
All: Jesus, you are the true vine.

We read this liturgy together in church this morning in the context of a service of baptism. Hence the questions came from a child, and we answered them. It was powerful.

A Woman in Full

Twenty-five is a nice full number, and it makes me feel like I am truly an adult. Andrea says it's the age in which you really take responsibility for your life. Mom says it's the age when you're supposed to start forgetting how old you are. While thirty is a universally recognized milestone, I think it's high time that twenty-five "got its," or however you say that. This is all to say that I am glad there are still five years until I hit that next milestone, because I have a lot to figure out between now and then.

I usually forget to thank God for another year on my birthday. I do it at New Year's, but I think my birthday is even more significant because God has brought me into another age in my personal history, if you will. Each age feels different from the one before. And while I am still young, God withholds much of the pain of aging despite what I might do to harm my body (i.e. standing up in my boots for so long that my toes become compressed). That is an amazing truth, if you think about it. I realize this will become less and less the case as time goes on. So I take this to heart: "Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come, and the years approach when you will say, 'I find no pleasure in them.'"

Despite being away from most of my family and friends, I did receive a few gifts from my best friend here.


Also, some special drinks.
And some delicious ribs.











We also celebrated by going to see The Decemberists in concert. They are not one of my favorite bands, but they put on a relatively fun show. They sang lots of songs about love and murder, it seemed. I hadn't heard much of their music except on Josh Daniels' NPR show and perhaps on someone else's iTunes. I hate to say this, but I am starting to feel that bands are a dime a dozen these days. I long for originality and creativity. Instead, these folks need to make money and thus put on a show they know will please a crowd. I can hardly blame them, but in the long run how will they set themselves apart?

All in all, it was a grand birthday. It is the first birthday I've ever spent without at least one family member present, so in that way it was a bit strange. But they were with me in spirit, and I enjoyed getting inundated with e-cards, emails, and facebook greetings, as well as having a chance to call my family which I have not been very good at. I think I'll renew my New Year's resolutions to become my "26th year resolutions," and add "better communication" to the list.